Detachable hanger for supporting panels



United States Patent-1O F DETACHABLE HANGER FOR SUPPORTING PANELS James McLean, Evanston, 111., assignor to Garden City Plating & Manufacturing Co.

Filed June 14, 1956, Ser. No. 591,426

3 Claims. (01. 50-405 The present invention relates to detachable hangers for supporting panels, and is particularly concerned with hangers for mounting panels between bracket supports of the type disclosed in my prior application, Serial No. 491,996, filed March 3, 1955, now Patent No. 2,921,693, patented January 19, 1960.

In accordance with the aforesaid prior invention bracket supports are arranged vertically in predetermined spaced relationship, and panels of plywood, hardboard, or other suitable material are mounted between adjacent bracket supports to provide a neat, attractive wall surface as a background for the merchandise displayed on shelves or garment rods supported by brackets projecting outwardly from the bracket supports.

. In my prior application, the panelsare held in place by retainers which are secured in the bracket support and project laterally over the front edge of each panel. It has been found that the retainers mar the front surface of the panels which they engage. This makes it difiicult to remove a panel and then put it back in place because the marred surface often shows regardless of the care with which the retainer is replaced.

In accordance with the present invention the bracket supports are provided with an aperture on each side near the top and bottom of the'support, A hanger having a pair of downwardly extending notches is secured against the side of the bracket support by an offset lip which is inserted through one of theapertureson the side of the bracket support. 7

The panel is providedwith a wood strip adjacent each vertical edge and a metal dowel pin is driven into the edge of the wood strip in position togengage one of the notchesof the hanger when the front surface gof the panel is' fiush with the front ofthe bra'cket' supports.- "The notches of the hanger are tapered to facilitate the insertion of the projecting portion of the dowel pin into the proper notch.

When the dowel pins projecting from the edges of a panel are inserted into notches of hangers secured to the sides of adjacent bracket supports the interengagement of the pins and notches prevents displacement of the panel in the forward direction. The panels may be easily lifted to disengage the dowel pins from the hangers so that the panels may be removed for redecorating, or for any other reason, and replaced in their original position. 7

If the bracket supports extend above the merchandise display, separate panels may be mounted above the display and may be decorated in any desired manner as by pictorial designs or advertising matter.

The structure by means of which the above mentioned and other advantages of the invention are attained will be described in the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, showing a preferred illustrative embodiment of the invention, in

which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a bracket Pa tented Apr. 18, 1961 support with a hanger detachably secured thereto in accordance with the present invention;

' Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view, taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a'detail perspective view of one of the hangers for supporting the panels; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the panels.

.In the drawings, the reference numeral 2 indicates a bracket support; This support comprises a pair of vertically disposed metal strips 3 and 4 juxtaposed with their front and rear edges offset. Formed metal sheets 5 and 6 are juxtaposed against the outer surfaces of strips 3 and 4. Sheets 5 and 6 are duplicates, but are secured to strips 3 and 4 in reversed positions to form the bracket support. Strips 3 and 4 and sheets 5 and 6 are secured together in any suitable manner to form a single unit. Each sheet 5 and 6 is provided with longitudinal ribs 7 and 8 adjacent its edges and an intermediate longitudinal rib 9 along its center. The outer edge 10 of rib 7 and outer edge 11 of rib 8 are spaced inwardly of the opposite edges of the metal sheet 5 or 6 to provide space for one edge of a panel 12 adapted to be positioned between two adjacent laterally spaced bracket supports.

The front edge- 13 of sheet 5 is spaced from strip 4 a distance equal to the thickness of strip 3, and the front edge 14 of sheet 6 is similarly spaced from strip 3. The front edge of each strip 3 and 4 is provided with a plurality of vertically spaced slots (not shown) for the reception and support of a plurality of individual brackets (not shown) which project outwardly from either edge of the bracket.

Each rib 9 is provided with an aperture 15 adjacent its upper edge and a similar aperture 16 spaced upwardly from its lower edge. A hanger 17 is secured to rib 9 adjacent each aperture 15 and 16. Aperture 16 is positioned above the lower edge of bracket support 2 a distance greater than the length of hanger 17 so that the bottom of the hanger is above the bottom of the bracket support. 'The,hangerflTcomprises 'an upper channel shaped portion" 18 and a lower portion 19 but outwardly at a slight angle. The channel shaped portion is adapted to fit over the rib 9 and has a lip 20 projecting from its upper edge. Lip 20 is offset inwardly and then upwardly, for a purpose hereinafter disclosed, and is curved in cross section to provide rigidity.

The lower portion 19 of the hanger is wider than the channel shaped portion,'and is provided with a pair of notches 21 extending downwardly from its upper edge on opposite sides of the channel shaped portion. At least one wall of each notch is tapered to provide each notch with an open upper end wider than the seat 22 at the bottom'of the notch. The lower portion 19 is provided with a flange 23 extending inwardly therefrom. Flange 23 abutsrib 9 and prevents portion 19 from being bent flat against the bracket support. The bottoms of the notches 21 terminate above flange 23 to provide added strength for the bottom edge of the hanger.

The hanger is positioned by inserting lip 20 into one of the apertures 15 or 16 and then moved pivotally downward to cause channel shaped portion 18 to embrace rib 9. In this position vertical portion of lip 20 abuts the inner surface of rib 9 and the horizontal portion rests on the lower. edge of the aperture. Flange 23 abuts ribs 7, 8 and 9 to hold the seats 22 spaced from the side 'tion.

' estates bracket support, it'would be possible for the pin 25 to,

strike one edge of the hanger and swing ito'ut of place 'wh'en the panel is being" inserted, ir the channel shaped portion 18 did not prevent such movement.

Each panel 12 is provided with a strip 24 having-"its outer-edge spaced'inwardly' from the lateral edge of the panel. A pin 25 projects from the outeredge of strip 24 in positi'on to be received in one-of the seats 22 when the edge of panel 1-2is positioned in the corner bet-weenedge 11 of rib 8 and the front edge '13 of sheet 5.'- i The panel '12 is positioned with its opposite edges in correspending corners of twol'aterally spaced bracket supports at a height above its final position, with each pin' 25 aligned vertically with a seat 22, and is then dropped into final position. The notches hold the panels from accidental displacement, and the panel must be lifted enough for the pins 25 to clear the topof the notch 21 before it can be removed. 7 a

From the foregoing description it will be seen'thatiI have devised an inexpensive and efficient means for mounting panels between laterally spaced bracket supports. The hangers maybe readily inserted in the apertures and will remain in plafcewhile the panel is being positioned; No tools. are required to position or to 1:- move either the hangers or the panel. 'If'the bracket support is used where brackets may pi'oje'ct from each side, a panel may be placed on each side to provide a neat, attractive structure on both faces of the installation. If, the bracket supports are sufliciently high they may be provided with four apertures instead of two, and two panels may be mounted between each pair or bracket supports. The lower panel may be used to provide a background for the'merchandise supported by the brackets projecting from the lower part of the structure, and the upper panel may be used for advertising display. The upper panels may be readily changed without disturbing the lower panels. a

While I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention in considerable detail, it will be understood that the description thereof is illustrative, rather than restrictive, as many details may be modified or changed without departing frorn'the'spirit or scope of my inven-' Accordingly, I do not'desire tobe restricted to the exact structure described. a f

I'claim: 1. A hanger for removably supporting a panel between a pair of laterally spaced supports each provided with a longitudinal rib and an aperture in said rib, said hanger comprising a plate having a channel shaped portion adapted to fit over the rib of one of said supports, an offset lip adapted'to engage the aperture in said one rib to detachably secure said hanger to said one support, a notch 'for engagement with a projection extending from the panel to be supported, and a flange integral with said ,1 plate, said flange having a free edge adapted to abut said rib to space said notch 'therefrom.

2. A hanger comprising a plate, the upper portion of said plate being bent to ,form a vertical channel, an offset lip extendira inwardly and upwardly from said chani a nel, the lower portion of said plate extending angularly outward'frorn the lower end of said channel, a flange extending inwardl y'from-thelower end of said plate, and a pair of notches extending downwardly into said plate, said notches being positioned outside the vertical planes of the opposite edges of said channel.

the upper'end of'said'flanged portion, and a panel having its opposite lateral edges abutting one edge of said first'men'tioned rib of each support and flush with the forward edges of said supports, a longitudinal strip secured to the rear surface of said'panel adjacent each of said lateral edges, and a pair of pins projecting from each of said strips, each of said pins being seated in one of said notches to hold said panel in fixed relationship to said supports. 1

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,158,081 "Mortar May 16,1939

2,206,233; Morrell July 2, 1940 2,553,960 De'Swart May 22, 1951 v 7 -FOREIGINI PATENTS 

